The Thrifty Scot
Welcome to The Thrifty Scot financial help site. Look through our credit cards, loans mortgages, savings and insurance sections.

• Payment cards for businesses
  Running a business can be a difficult and stressful enough job at the best of times, but trying to sort out your business finances can add even more pressure to a business owner or manager. The smooth running of business finances is a key area of any business, and without adequate cash flow facilities a business can very quickly hit problems. Effective financial management is therefore essential for businesses, and
• Card companies should provide examples, says debt expert
  Banks and card companies should give customers examples of what they are paying on their credit card bills, according to a representative of one debt counselling service.James Falla, director of Thomas Charles, supported the idea of market regulators asking companies to "clearly print" the examples for card holders to avoid confusion on items such as interest rates.Mr Falla explained: "Particularly with cards that do have high interest rates, they should
• Co-op's Xmas gift for flood victims
  Co-operative Insurance has announced it will be handing a Christmas gift to those of their customers still feeling the effects of this summer's floods.The insurer processed 4,500 claims following the washouts of earlier in the year and though many have been settled, 500 households will still be in alternative accommodation over the festive period.With this in mind, Co-op has confirmed it will be making a £100 payment to those still
• NAEA stands against Hips
  The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has spoken out against Home Information Packs (Hips), calling them a "clumsy piece of legislation".Today (Friday, December 14th), the industry will see Hips rolled out across all properties in the market.The NAEA says Hips are a "waste of time" and stresses that the industry has consistently advised the government against extending the use of the packs.Stewart Lilly, the NAEA president, commented: "The immediate
• Young women should have Isa and pension, says advisor
  Young women should start saving now with a combination of an Individual Savings Account (Isa) and a pension, according to one independent financial advisor.MDM Associates has advised young women to plan out a way to budget and then open savings accounts.Director Lisanne Mealing said: "For a young woman I'd say it's quite important to sit down and work out what your actual outgoings are: what you need to have a
• First time buyers – dos and don'ts
  Being a first time buyer in the current economic climate can be a daunting and stressful experience. First time buyers have been hit by many different problems over recent years, making it increasingly difficult to get onto the property ladder and reducing access to properties. As a first time buyer in this day and age you need to be well organised, and you need to make sure that you do
• Buyers want fairer stamp duty for Xmas
  A fairer stamp duty system is high up on the list of Christmas wishes of borrowers, according to one property expert.Mortgage specialists John Charcol believe that a stepped method of working out Stamp Duty Land Tax on properties should be put in place, with increases according to the value of a home.The firm has already started a petition calling for such a measure and will hand in all the signatures
• Free-to-use cash points installed in low income areas
  The government has announced it is on its way to meeting a target of installing over 500 free-to-use cash points in low income areas by the first half of next year.An initiative was conducted in order to ensure those living in low-income parts of the country do not have to leave their neighbourhood to find a free-to-use cash machine or pay an added fee in their own locality.According to recently
• Card holders with credit problems often overlook interest rate
  Many of those who develop credit problems are overlooking the interest rates on the cards which they sign up for, according to one debt counselling service.Thomas Charles & Co has highlighted the lack of knowledge that some card holders demonstrate about the product they are using.The firm's director, James Falla, said that there are some Brits who don't even know what they are paying in interest on they are paying
• The pros and cons of banking online
  Over the years banking in the UK has become easier and more convenient, and this is a real relief for those that have to try and juggle work, family, and friends in an increasingly fast paced world. In the past trying to conduct bank transactions often involved having to go to the branch in person, queue up even when you were pushed for time, and then wait for the cashier
• High cost of living leads to underinsurance
  The increasing cost of living has led to many Brits being left underinsured, according to one financial services provider.Sainsbury's Finance has presented research which suggests the reason why 21.9 million people had opted out of purchasing one or more insurance products was the rise of living costs, which saw a rate of 4.2 per cent in October and November of this year.It was found that some 13 per cent of
• Banking changes reflect life, says BBA
  Changes in banking in the UK, such as less people using face-to-face banking, is simply a reflection of today's pace of life, says the British Bankers Association (BBA).BBA spokesman Lesley Mcleod pointed to a recent Lloyds TSB survey which showed that 50 per cent of Brits have not seen their bank manager for more than ten years and explained that there had been an increase in the number of people
• 2008 will be "double-edged sword" for first-time buyers, says CML
  Next year will be a "double-edged sword" for first-time buyers due to falling prices and uncertain times, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have suggested.The CML's head of external affairs Sue Anderson said that while there is cause to be optimistic, those wishing to make their initial move onto the housing ladder should also tread with caution.She said: "On one hand, if the prices come down or even if they
• 'Panic buying a no-no'
  Panic buying on credit at Christmas is one of the bad decisions that Brits can take, risking leaving them with a financial hangover in the New Year, according to one credit reference agency.Callcredit has also advised shopping around but not overspending on bargain specials.Using all the same passwords and pin numbers online is also a bad idea, says the group, as lax attitude could leave one open to becoming an
• How to use an ISA
  In this day and age there are many different ways in which consumers can save towards their future, with a wide range of investments and savings options on offer from a range of financial providers. One effective way in which many people have started to save over recent years is through an ISA, which stands for an Individual Savings Account. These accounts were introduced in the UK in April 1999,
• Isas are effective, research shows
  Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) are having their intended effect in encouraging people to save, according to new research.The economic secretary to the Treasury Kitty Ussher MP has presented two recently published reports which indicate that the tax incentives offered through Isas are proving popular with the British public - one in three people now hold such an account.Also, it was found that over 40 per cent has saved over £8,000
• Popularity of fixed-rate mortgages rising
  The popularity of fixed-rate mortgages is rising, with buyers appreciating the peace of mind that they are seen to bring, one expert has suggested.A repres